uds. Aria's legs burned from running, her lungs ached, an

eful. They crossed a shallow stream, scaled a ridge, and entered a part

heir limbs stretching like sk

" Luca mutter

arely catchin

llowsha

his palm against a knot in the trunk. The ground rumbled. A crack appeared b

he dart, the fire in her dream, the voice on the phone. The Hollowshade Den wasn't a den at all. It was a network o

m, some not-watched them

one," a gir

Luca led her into a wide cha

stone seats, eyes glowing with age and power. An old woman sto

. Luna of H

." Aria swallowed. "You

d seventeen y

, "You said somethi

ng a key." L

e Crimson Howl." Ma

betrayed the Moon, and the High Alpha was slain. Since then, the packs have fractured. But the prophecy says

's me." Maera pointe

ket. On her skin was a crescent moon birthmark-red as

. The Council will send a

he doesn't know the rul

e part of this," A

ife back." Maera

back. Not af

ned. You are no l

tightened. Pa

d to Luca

t in the fire the night your fath

ue Alpha. And he died becaus

ng at the moon through the trees. Luca approa

with the pain." She too

g feels...

st shifts tear the body ap

wolf in the fir

al?" Luca's f

mark of the betrayer. The

to the Council now. And if they find you before you're r

learn." L

?" "Tr

ight. How to run.

spread acro

t you'd ne

y black pine-became her battleground. The air smelled of wet earth and morning

said. Aria

ned the fire within. The wolf stirred. Pain bloomed in her spine. Bones cracked. Cl

. "Now let's see

-his black wolf form

instincts flaring. They circled. Fangs flashed. He

ocu

time, she landed a hit. Luca growled approvingly. But the moment of victory was short-lived. A scream echoed from the treeline. They b

nd us," s

e of them. C

rs shifted. Sentries howled

more. This is war." "I want to fight." He st

e Hollowshade. Chaos erupted. Claws tore. Teeth snapped. Blood s

ther's spine with his jaws. But then a howl. Cold. Cruel. Familiar. A white wolf stood

wolf through shadows and fog until they reached a cliff. The w

," the woman said, voice like ash. Ar

hoice will end us all." Before Aria could lunge, t

a arrived, bloo

man's last words echoed louder than any howl. When the seco